AP houses to be energy efficient

Vijayawada: Energy-efficient home appliances will be distributed in Vijayawada and Narsapur in a bid to make State energy efficient, said Principal Secretary of Energy Department, Ajay Jain, and added that street lighting in 30 municipalities would be replaced with LED bulbs and Chief Minister would launch the programme on April 7.

• Pilot project to be launched in Vijayawada and Narsapur
• Fans, refrigerators to follow LEDs distribution
• Cost of the appliances to be deducted from electricity bill
• CM to launch LED street lighting programme on April 7
• 30 municipalities to be covered under the programme

Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Jain said that the energy-efficient home appliances including fans, refrigerators and air conditioners would be supplied to the consumers. The cost of the appliances would be deducted from the monthly electricity bill for a period of 2 years.

Stating that the State won several awards for distribution of energy efficient LED bulbs, the principal secretary said that out of 7.5 crore bulbs distributed in the country, 1.87 crore bulbs were distributed in State alone. “It is the mission of the CM to replace all the bulbs in the State with LEDs by 2017,” he added. Jain said that an international workshop on energy efficient lighting: Urban experiences and implementation practices will be held at Gateway Hotel, here on April 7 and added that 200 representatives from 35 countries would attend the programme.

Informing that a company would be set up to monitor energy efficiency programmes in the State, the principal secretary said that the State tops in replacing 45 per cent street lights with LEDs. “As a pilot project the government replaced around 322 old agricultural pumpsets in Rajanagaram of East Godavari district with energy efficient pumpsets. Following the success of the pilot project, pumpsets across the State will be replaced in phased manner,” he added.